Egypt has gone through several difficult challenges since the 2011 revolution and the international community is supporting the country with its economic, political and security challenges. But frequent terrorist attacks, for example on the Sinai Peninsula and all other acts of terrorism against Egypt, and the constant attacks on Christian Copts are implying a worrying development. Nevertheless, this cannot be an excuse for the Egyptian authorities to still carry out inhuman and degrading capital punishment.

I am seriously concerned about the mass trials carried out by Egyptian courts and the large number of death sentences.

Therefore, I urge the Egyptian authorities for the immediate and definitive end of such practices and to reverse the death sentences handed down by them. I call on the authorities to establish immediately an official moratorium on executions, as a first step towards abolition.

We, the EU, strongly condemn the use of the death penalty. I call on the Egyptian authorities to stick to their international commitments in the field of human rights.